My other M&P’s do not have safeties. I got a good deal on a 9mm shield, but it has a safety. Lots of talk here about carrying with safeties and don’t want to rehash that topic. My question is: is there a difference with or without a safety mechanically? Can a Shield be carried without engaging the safety safely?

Other than the safety itself, there is no difference between the two. You can carry it without engaging the safety just as safely as you can carry one without a safety.

I would assume as with anything; it all revolves around training and practice. Drawing from a holster, etc.

I dont carry it much but in limited time i have never engaged the safety in my PC Shield. It happened to come with one, but i dont use it.

The thumb safety is small and recessed and will not get in your way. If wanted later, it cam be broken in and used.

The Shield is drop safe (will not fire on contact) and “trigger safe” (will not fire without the trigger pulled fully to the rear), with or without the manual safety installed. Stay safe out there!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

None of my M&Ps have manual safeties including my Shield.

The nice thing is that you can "retrofit" to either add or delete the manual safety.

I have an early one with the safety because that was all that was available at the time of purchase. I am a lefty so it is of no use to me. I never use it.

I bought my Shield 2.0 with a safety because it was cheaper than one without. I leave the safety off, I use it as my EDC and it never causes a problem to have the safety and not have it on.

Mine has a safety, never use it, so it's no issue either way, I would which ever is cheaper.

That is what I suspected.

It was worth saving $50 on one without the safety.

Both my Shields have safeties. I do use them as that is how I trained with them. Just go to thumb them off when drawing. It's natural to me as way back when that is how I hunted ducks and pheasant. Safety came off as gun came up to my shoulder.

Mine has safety. I put in a Hyve trigger and didn't file the trigger bar tip (purposely) so it no longer can engage. Much better. The Hyve trigger totally transforms the Shield for the better.

Mine has the safety but I never use it. Almost don’t even know I have it.

I used to have 2 Shields - both had the thumb safety. It is firm enough that it never came on by accident. In fact, I never used it.

I just finally ordered a 9mm Shield again - I should have it soon. I ordered one with the safety again... But, no intention of using the safety on it...

Where can I find the instructions to remove the manual safety?

Youtube.

But a few comments. Adding/removing the safety from the FS and Compact is pretty straightforward. The frame is notched for the safety. The non safety models, like mine, are simply plugged. S&W even sells the plugs to fill the gaps.

This is not the case for the Shields. Adding a safety would require cutting the frame. Removing the safety would leave the gaps (unless you plug it with some kind of filler).

There are other mods where you simply cut off the tab or clip the end of the trigger bar. I would not recommend any of these methods.

As others have said, the safety doesn't flip itself. I suggest you set it "off" and leave it "off". Otherwise, sell your safety Shield and buy one with no safety (like mine).

To those in the know. Could the OP simply remove the safety mechanism from the gun? Or does the safety mechanism do other "things" within the housing it is fitted into?

I have safeties on both my Shields. I can't use them for carry because I'm left handed.

But, I have no wish to remove them. The safety works well when doing administrative handling, especially holstering. When it's safely in the holster, I just flick it off. It never bothers me.

Have a look at this vid. Advance to 7:15 details.


The safety does capture the sear pin. Without it, the sear pin could walk out a bit.

My newly acquired M&P Shield 2.0 9mm has the safety & I can see where both types have their merit, I own a couple Glocks.
I see no need to remove the safety on mine, It's stiff & couldn't see it being accidentally switched off or on..
Great little pistol..

Attached Images

Shield2.0.jpg (111.1 KB, 44 views)

The only reason I engage the safety on my PC Shield 9mm is because I mostly carry it in an AIWB (appendix) Cross-Breed holster. I practice my gun handling techniques, but it's still comforting to me to know that I'm taking a little extra precaution to protect the family jewels and my femoral arteries!

I ignore the safety on my Shield and try to imagine it not there


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I don’t like thumb safeties on striker fired pistols. I have 2 Shields, a version 1 and a new M2.0. Neither have a manual thumb safety. I don’t want to have to think about flicking the safety off under stress if I need to use the gun. There are many documented cases of people forgetting to flip the safety off under the stress of a gunfight, and when they point their gun and pull the trigger and get don’t get a bang, they have a “oh *****” moment. It takes a few seconds for them to diagnose the problem, fix it, and get back into the fight. That’s a long time, and that’s if they didn’t already get shot during that delay.
I know Shield owners will say they carry with the safety off and have never had a problem with it engaging on its own, but for me that’s not something I trust my life with. Everyone has a personal budget, but for me I’ll spend the small amount of extra money on the no thumb safety version. And right now there are amazing deals, I don’t see why anyone would get the thumb safety version anyway.
PSA is still running the amazing deal for a 2.0 Shield 9mm no thumb safety for $299 with free shipping. At that price it’s damn near impossible to justify getting a with safety version to save money. But to each their own.
My 2.0 Shield 9mm no thumb safety only cost me $270 after the S&W mail in rebate, an absolute steal of a price. And the rebate money came in just a couple of weeks after my rebate submission. Awesome turnaround time.


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Growing up shooting 1911s has taught my thumb to sweep the safety, whether it has one or not.
But I only leave the safety engaged on a 1911 or HiPower.
With my Shield, it’s on to holster it and once holstered, it’s off safe.
I believe most AD/ND happen while holstering.

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“Look life in its iron face”

Yes, there is a difference mechanically.

Yes, it can be carried without the safety engaged.

I would say based on your question, and not to be presumptuous, is that you want a lot of trigger time with this pistol, or any pistol, you intend on carrying to potentially defend your life, of the life or your loved one.

Know your tool, and know how to manipulate it quickly and effectively.

Due to the nature of the Shield safety, I would agree it is incredibly unlikely to become engaged/disengaged by accident. That said, I would caution you to train as if it is "on", even if you "leave it off all of the time".

I understand there are varying schools of thought here, and to each their own, the old school types like 1911 guys, revolver guys, or the newest school striker guys, safety striker guys, etc, but if a safety is on your weapon, you should be comfortable manipulating it on/off instinctively, period. The best way to establish that is through repetition-- training.

It is an extra step to train.

A Shield safety can be disengaged from the draw, like most other manual, external safeties, but the last thing you want is to pull out a tool that you immediately require in order to protect your life, and no matter how hard you pull on the trigger, nothing happens.

Seconds count

Another 1911 guy, so I actually try to find firearms with a thumb safety (as long as it goes hot *down*). Every single time it comes out of the holster or gets picked up from the nightstand, that safety comes off for a second. Every time. That's a good bunch of times daily and I have what feels like an extra bone on the side of my thumb.

That said (#1) -- As mentioned, the Shield is one of few firearms I've owned with such an unobtrusive safety with such a positive action. I don't ever recall it moving on its own or not being where I expected it to be. Figure at the very least, 15,000 draws and it still feels like new for that matter. If there's one gun out there where you can set it and forget it, it's probably the Shield.

THAT said (#2) -- I still wouldn't trust it to be there. Which is why it's swiped every single time.

So put me in the camp with the others that say if you want it without a safety, get it without a safety.

Or as dwcopple mentioned above - If it's a 1.0, by all means install the Hyve trigger (I have the same - even in the same color) but don't file down the trigger bar - and presto! New (excellent) trigger and a safety that won't engage.

Some people pay for that kind of slide wear